Face mask



Jan- 9, 1951 G. A. GEMUNDEN 2,537,265

FACE MASK Filed May 20, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l @qm ATT y* Jan. 9, 1951 Filed May 20, 1946 G. A. GEMUNDEN 2,537,265

FACE MASK v 5 sheets-sheet INVENTOR. George A Gema fla/ef: BY

HTW,

Jan. 9, 1951 G. A. GEMUNDEN FACE MASK Filed May zo, 194e 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Geo/ne G//WUG/e BY HTTY.

Patented Jan.` 9, y:1951

T1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f 2,537,265 'n l 5 I l FACE MASK ,s i George A.v Gemunden;A Philadelphia, Pa. v .f Appli'atin May an, 194e, serial No. 671,028

, p 1 This invention relates covers, such as masks, hoods, helmets, etc.

` @The invention relates more particularly to the ...window and window assembly in masks, hoods, ,etc. and has 'for its salient object to provide akv window mounting and window so constructed and arranged that the window can be easily and `quickly removed and replaced without requiring 4 the removal or loosening of any fastening means. Another object of the invention is to provide .a window and window assembly so-constructed `and arranged as to afford the wearer of the mask maximum vision and particularly down vision.

A Further objects of the invention will appear used ' 4Figs.2 and V3 in assembled relation with the window mounted therebetween;

Fig, 5 is an end elevation of the blank assembly and window; f y Fig. 6 is a plan View of the window; and

.Y Fig. 7 isa sectional elevation of a modied form of mask framed with a rubber covering for `the edges of the blanks. Y

The mask about Ato be described may be used in conjunction with arespirator with or without ,a hood for protection to the eyes and face or may be used to protect the eyes and face but without `the use of a lrespirator in conjunction therewith.

4 The mask consists primarily of a frame which comprises a pair of inner and outerjblanksZ `and 2l, 'shown in Figs. 2 and 3. These blanks .may be formed of any desired sheet material, but

are preferably formed of flexible, at sheets of ber or other suitable composition. However, the blanks may be formed of Ametal Sheets.

The blank 20, as shown in Fig 2, consists of a 4`flat sheet ofmaterial havingia Vision opening 22 bounded by a flat band or marginal portion 23. The marginal portion 23 h`as `a substantially V- shaped opening 24 at the bottom thereof, the

. vcrest 25 of the V being formed to accommodate 1 a respirator.

` The blank 2l has a vision/opening 33 ,conformfing substantially in shape to the vision opening i 22 inthe blank 20, but the opening Sllis slightly larger than the -opening 22 so that when the blanks are assembled and secured together the inner edgeof the marginal portion 23 or the boundary of the opening 22 extends inwardly beyond the boundary of the opening 30. In vother Words, at the vision opening the inner periphery 2 Claims. (Clf128--141) to protective face or head vrof the blank 20 overlaps the inner periphery of the blank 2 l.

The blank 2| 4has formed therein an opening 3| to accommodate a respirator and oppositely facing tabs 32 and33. The tab 33 has an open- 'l1g'34.V "i s When the blanks are assembled the marginal portions are preferably secured by rivets, as showngin Fig. 4. Blank 2D has formed therein pe'rforations'm B and C and blank 2| has corresponding perforations A', B' and C', The tab "33 has lperfo'rations lD, E and'F and tab 32 has Acorrespondingy perforatons G, Hand J. In assembling the'blanksthe upper marginal portions "of the blanks are preferably secured together rst as, ferl instance, by rivets which pass through the perf'orations A, A', B, B and C, C. Theas.. sembled blanks are=then bowed and the tabs 32 'and vv33 are overlapped to bring the openings E 'and Ff into alinement with the openings H and G. YRivets are thereafter secured through these openings. lThe tab33'fis further secured to the portionof the tab 32'disposed therebeneath by "a yrivet which is passed through the opening D and opening J in the tab 32( JA further rivet is passed through openings K and K in blanks 20 "aand 2 Ires'pectively;

f- It should be understood that the blanks 2l) and 2l which form theframe` or-body-member of the mask-may; if-desired; be secured together in any other suitable mannerg'as by stitching, but atztention is directed to the fact that the securing means fori-connecting the blank marginal por- 'tions togetherA are Suilicientlynear the outer peripheries of tha-blanks tol leave between the portions of the .blanksrbordering on the vision openings -a Vspace Wide` enough to receive the ='peripheral or. marginal portions of the window mounted therein.

When theblanksarejformed of flexible, sheet lmaterial, such' as fiber, `the marginal portion or f-periphery vofthe window can be easily inserted be used,v both openings may be eliminated, o1 this portion of the blank may be filled in.

f Aiterltheiblanks have been assembled and se'.- cured together, a window W is inserted in the 'space "'betweenfthe marginal portions of the blanks bordering the vision openings. The window is formed of any suitable transparent, ilexiassises 1 f that the window and window assembly are so relatively constructed that the window may be easily and readily removed and replaced without looseningA or removing any securing means and ythat the window can be easilyv forced into the channel between the frame member or blanks -under tension or can be inserted at one end or side if desired.

is important since the wearer is thereby provided-- with a wide lateral Vision and the down vision is not obstructed by the respirator.

The window shown in plan in Fig. 6 corresponds in shape to the contour of the vision openings 22 and 30 but the window is slightly larger than these lopenings so that when the window is assembna between the inner marginal portionsr of .theblanks the outer edge of the window will be disposed beneath the innerperiphery of the blank .2l andcloser to the visionopenings than thesecuring means which is used to'secure the blanks together. This is clearly shown by the dotted line 42 in Fig. l.

l The4 window Wis mounted in the frame by `bowing the window to conform to the contour of the frame and inserting the upper edge of the window beneath the inner periphery or the edge of the vision opening 30 ofthe blank 2| and yfore-- ing this upper edge of the window upwardly until the lower edge clears the inwardly and upwardly extending lower peripheralportion of the opening 30. Thereupon the lower part of the window vmay be pressed in and then the window can be moved downwardly, thus disposing the peripheral portions thereof between the inner marginal portions of the blanks. If desired, one of the rivets or staples, such as the rivet passed through the openings A and A', may be removed, and the window can then be inserted at the side of the frame with the upper edge of the window pushed as far upwardly as possible in the channel between the blanks until the re cessed lower edge of the window can be moved around the portion of the frame surrounding the -moved downwardly :channel Y Moreover, it is evident that the window and window vmounting will provide a wide vision and also permit the wearer to look downwardly or obtain a down lvision at the sides of the nose piece and respirator.

Although one specic embodiment of the invention has been particularly shown and described it ywilllbe-understood that the invention is capable of modification and that changes in the construction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating partsl may be made wthout'departving from the spirit or scope ofthe invention; 'as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a face mask, a frame comprising a pair of substantially flat, ring-shaped iiexible blanks, means for securing said blanks together at their outer peripheries, said blanks when secured together having an opening for a respirator and having a vision opening extending transversely across the frame and downwardly at the sides of the saidy opening, the inner edge of one blank at the vision opening extending inwardly beyond the inner edge of the other blank, and a window disposed between the marginal portions of the blanks at the vision opening and having its pe- Yriphery disposed nearer the opening than the secured peripheral portions of the blanks said winv.dow being held in position by the marginal porof ilexible, relatively hard, sheet material, means for securing said blanks together at their outer peripheriessaid blanks when secured together f being bowed in transverse section to conformV to z '.Therespirator used-,with ythe mask .may be Lcpf anysta,Ildardr constructionV and the details of con- :struction oi the respirator form no part of the rpres'ent invention and have not been illustrated. It will be understood without further explana- :tion that the nose piece of thev respirator will be suitably mounted on the inside of the mask frame .so that the nose opening of the nose piece will;

-be alined with lthe nose opening at the bottom of lthe v mask :frame and, furthermore, that the .mouth opening 34 of the mask frame will be suitably alined with the mouth opening of the nose p1ece.

The mask may be used with or without 'a hood, 'as desired, and the hood maybe formed .of can- .vas or,` when the wearer is working with acids, .caustics, or any other deteriorating substances, :the hood may be formed of rubber. vIn this case -thefouter edge of the frame member 2l will be l.preferably protected bya rubber covering.

In Fig. 7 the mask is used 'with a rubber hood #l5-'and the rubber material extends around the outer blank to protect the material of .the blank yfrom acids, chemicals or other deteriorating ysubstances. i

:f I` From thev foregoing specication it will be clear Number thecurvature of the face and having an opening for a respirator and having a vision opening e'xtending transversely across'V the frame and 'downwardly at the sides of the lnose opening, the intending 'inwardly beyond the inner edge of the other blank, and a window disposed between the marginal portions of the blanks at the vision opening and having its periphery disposed nearer the opening than the secured peripheral portions of the blanks said windowzbeing held in position portions of 4the blanks.

GEORGE A. GEMUNDEN.

REEERENCES- CITED 'The following references are lof record in the file of this patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Name 1,947,786 Lueck et al Feb. 20, 1934 2,201,198 Munro May 21, 1940 2,238,492 v Leguillon 1 Apr. l5, 1941 2,296,338 .Dakin Sept. 22, 1942 '2,396,239 Beck Mar. 12, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country I Date 

